The Carbon County Airport Authority is planning to build a new hangar at Jake Arner Memorial Airport.

The new building, about one-third the size of the existing main hangar, would create a dedicated space for the Life Flight helicopter based out of the airport. It would also create more room for airplanes in the main hangar where the helicopter is stored now.

“They’ll have a little more room, and we’ll have that space open that we can put other aircraft in,” said Paul Smith, chairman of the Carbon County Airport Authority.

The Carbon County Planning Commission recently voted to recommend approval of the airport, along with a planned second building to store the airport’s snowplows. Mahoning Township has approved the project with conditions. Meanwhile, the Airport Authority is seeking state grants to fund the design and construction of the project, and already has a matching grant to fund a portion of the project.

The proposed building would be roughly 3,500 square feet.

Life Flight occupies space in the 10,000 square foot main hangar, which is more than 50 years old.

The primary reason for building a dedicated hangar for the Life Flight helicopter would be to save on operating costs at the airport. During the winter months it must be kept in a heated area. Each time the hangar is opened, the building must be heated again. With the helicopter flying to emergencies as much as 100 times per month, the cost adds up.

“It would save everybody money operationally if we could build this hangar, and make it more efficient,” Smith said.

A new hangar would also create more space to store airplanes for local pilots. Jake Arner Memorial houses about 40 airplanes and has a waiting list for pilots who want to park their planes. Moving the Life Flight helicopter out of the hangar would create space for 5 or 6 more.

Life Flight has leased hangar space at the airport since 2006. Their lease runs through June 2023.

In less than 10 minutes the helicopter can reach trauma centers which would take an hour to reach by car. Smith said having the helicopter based in Carbon County saves crucial minutes during emergencies.

“If you’re saving even 5 minutes you could be saving a life. It’s a huge benefit,” he said.